Family & Relationships
Divorce lawyers help you separate properly, apply for divorce and deal with the issues that follow.
Divorce formally ends a marriage. Parenting arrangements, property and financial support are separate issues, so ask which applications or agreements your circumstances require. Check eligibility, documents and dates before applying.
Ending the marriage does not itself divide property or settle parenting arrangements. Property applications generally need to be made within 12 months after a divorce becomes final; obtain advice about the deadline and any exception that may apply.
Divorce is based on the breakdown of the marriage, rather than fault. The FCFCOA removed the counselling-certificate requirement for applicants married less than two years from 10 June 2025. Check the current application process with the relevant court; Western Australia has its own Family Court.
Divorce & Separation firms in the directory
738 firms
Belconnen, ACT · Canberra
Yellow Legal provides legal services in Belconnen, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
Elbatti Legal provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Dubbo, NSW · Central West & Orana
Mastronardi Legal provides legal services in Dubbo, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Redcliffe, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
Parker Family Law provides legal services in Redcliffe, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Divorce & Separation.
Ipswich, QLD · Ipswich
Best Wilson Buckley Family Law provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Margaret River, WA · South West
Cape to Cape Lawyers Busselton office provides legal services in Margaret River, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Grafton, NSW · Northern Rivers
Gallagher Solicitors & Conveyancers provides legal services in Grafton, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Phoenix Law provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Enmore, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
Principal Lawyers provides legal services in Enmore, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Debt Recovery.
Mount Pleasant, WA · Perth South
Biddulph & Turley provides legal services in Mount Pleasant, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Jandakot, WA · Perth South
Biddulph & Turley provides legal services in Jandakot, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Noosaville, QLD · Sunshine Coast
BJH LAW PTY LTD provides legal services in Noosaville, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Caloundra, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Ferrall & Co. Lawyers provides legal services in Caloundra, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Bundall, QLD · Gold Coast
Quinn Family Law provides legal services in Bundall, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Ruhl Family Law Centre provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Nowra, NSW · South Coast
Family First Lawyers provides legal services in Nowra, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Gosford, NSW · Central Coast
Family Law Partners provides legal services in Gosford, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Mackay, QLD · Mackay & Whitsundays
Family Lawyers Mackay provides legal services in Mackay, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Divorce & Separation.
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
Geelong Family Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Kenmore, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Melrose Keys Lawyers provides legal services in Kenmore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Binding Financial Agreements.
Gawler South, SA · Barossa & Adelaide Hills
Shorter Legal provides legal services in Gawler South, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Parenting & Child Custody.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Watson St Claire Family Law provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Umina Beach, NSW · Central Coast
Darley Legal provides legal services in Umina Beach, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Hyde Park, SA · Adelaide Metro
Judith Jordan Family and Collaborative Lawyer provides legal services in Hyde Park, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Divorce & Separation.
Understand the next step
Ending a marriage and resolving parenting or financial arrangements are different tasks. Ask the lawyer to explain which applications or agreements you actually need and the sequence in which to address them.
Make sure a fixed divorce fee is not being mistaken for advice about dividing assets or arrangements for children.
Explain the relationship history, current arrangements and outcome you want. Identify immediate concerns and provide every existing order or agreement.
Discuss negotiation and family dispute resolution. Parenting applications generally involve prior dispute resolution unless an exception applies; ask the lawyer to assess the appropriate process.
Ask how an agreement would be documented and implemented. Clarify who handles related transfers, finance and estate-planning work.
Ask for separate estimates for advice, negotiation, document preparation and court work. A fixed divorce-application fee does not necessarily cover parenting or financial disputes.
Ask for a written scope identifying the work you are authorising, the person responsible and when costs will be reviewed. If you only want advice on one step, say so before the firm begins wider work.
Highlight court dates, proposed travel or relocation and any planned property sale. Ask which time limits apply to your particular issues rather than assuming there is one deadline for everything.
Directory guidance updated 19 September 2026. General information to help you prepare for a conversation with a professional; not advice about your individual matter. Check current requirements with the relevant authority.
Good to know
Yes. You can be separated while still living in the same home, but you'll need extra evidence, usually affidavits, to show the relationship had ended.
Once filed, a divorce order usually becomes final one month and one day after it's granted. The overall time depends on court scheduling and whether there are children under 18.
Not always. A simple divorce application can be filed online without one. It's worth getting advice before you apply if you have children, shared property or superannuation, because divorce starts the clock on time limits for property claims.
Married couples generally have 12 months from the date the divorce becomes final. De facto couples generally have two years from separation. After that you need the court's permission, which is not guaranteed.
